Mechanism for pulling together and interlocking the edges of insulated building panels

ABSTRACT

MECHANISM FOR INTERLOCKING THE EDGES OF A PAIR OF BUILDING PANELS AND FOR DRAWING SAID PANELS TOGETHER INTO A SEALED RELATION, WHICH EMPLOYS IN AN EDGE OF ONE OF SAID PANELS, A WHOLLY ENCLOSED, NARROW LOCK HOUSING EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM AN EDGE WITHIN THE CORE OF THE FIRST PANEL, SAID HOUSING HAVING A RESILIENT LOCKING TONGUE THEREWITHIN AND NORMALLY EXTENDING AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO A SIDE OF SAID HOUSING WITH A FREE EDGE. THE MECHANISM INCLUDES IN COMBINATION A SLIDABLE BOLT PLATE OF SLIGHTLY SMALLER CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION THAN SAID NARROW CHANNEL, WHEREIN SAID BOLT PLATE IS SLIDABLE INTO SAID CHANNEL AND IN SUCH SLIDING INSERTION, CAMS THE LOCKING TONGUE FIRST OUTWARDLY UNTIL THE LOCKING TONGUE IS POSITIONED IN A RECESSED PORTION OF SAID BOLT PLATE, THEREUPON ABUTTING AN EDGE OF SAID BOLT PLATE TO SECURELY INTERLOCK THE SAME WITH SAID HOUSING. THE MECHANISM IS FURTHER SUPPLEMENTED BY AN ALIGNED SLOT IN THE EDGE FACE PLATE OF THE SECOND PANEL TO BE JOINED, THROUGH WHICH A PROJECTING END OF SAID BOLT PLATE IS RECEIVED AND PREFERABLY THEREAFTER, AN ADDITIONAL WEDGE MEMBER IS EMPLOYED, DRIVEN PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID BOLT PLATE THROUGH AN APERTURED LONGITUDINAL PORTION THEREOF TO BY WEDGE ACTION ON SAID BOLT PLATE, AND MORE PARTICULARLY ON THE LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREOF, PULL OR DRAW THE TWO PANELS TOGETHER INTO A SEALED RELATIONSHIP. MULTIPLES OF SAID MECHANISM ARE UTILIZED IN VERTICAL SPACED RELATION UPON THE UPRIGHT EDGES OF PANELS TO BE JOINED, AS WELL AS IN HORIZONTALLY SPACED RELATION AT THE UPPER EDGES AND LOWER EDGES OF THE UPRIGHT PANELS TO SECURE THE SAME TO CEILING AND FLOOR PANELS.

3,567,260 HE EDGES March 2, 1971 F. NORRIS MECHANISM FOR PULLJINGTOGETHER AND INTERLOCKING T 4 OF INSULATED BUILDING PANELS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Maron 21, 1969 INVENTOR. AWA/IE fr Mae/S March 2,1971 L, F NORR|5 3,567,260

MECHANISM FOR PULLING TOGETHER AND INTERLOCKING THE EDGES OF INSULATEDBUILDING PANELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2l, 1969 I N VEN TOR.19A/A0E E QPR/S A fro :nvm/.s

3,507,260 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 3,567,260 MECHANISM FOR PULLING TOGETHERAND INTERLCKING THE EDGES F INSULATED BUILDING PANELS lLannie F. Norris,Hot Springs, Ark., assigner to Norris Dispensers, Inc., Minneapolis,Minn. Filed Mar. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 809,067 Int. Cl. Flb 9/ 00 US. Cl.287-220.924 3 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLGSURE Mechanism forinterlocking the edges of a pair of building panels and for drawing saidpanels together into a sealed relation, which employs in an edge of oneof said panels, a wholly enclosed, narrow lock housing extendinginwardly from an edge within the core of the Iirst panel, said housinghaving a resilient locking tongue therewithin and normally extending atan acute angle to a side of said housing with a free edge. The mechanismincludes in combination a slidable bolt plate of slightly smaller crosssectional configuration than said narrow channel, wherein said boltplate is slidable into said channel and in such sliding insertion, camsthe locking tongue first outwardly until the locking tongue ispositioned in a recessed portion of said bolt plate, thereupon abuttingan edge of said bolt plate to securely interlock the same with saidhousing. The mechanism is further supplemented by an aligned slot in theedge face plate of the second panel to be joined, through which aprojecting end of said bolt plate is received and preferably thereafter,an additional wedge member is employed, driven perpendicularly to saidbolt plate through an apertured longitudinal portion thereof to by wedgeaction on said bolt plate, and more particularly on the longitudinalslot thereof, pull or draw the two panels together into a sealedrelationship. Multiples of said mechanism are utilized in verticalspaced relation upon the upright edges of panels to be joined, as wellas in horizontally spaced relation at the upper edges and lower edges ofthe upright panels to secure the same to ceiling and floor panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a totally enclosedmechanism containing cooperating elements in the edges of two insulatedor refrigerating panels to be joined, which provides for pullingtogether and clamping the edges of panels to be joined and firmlyinterlocking the same after the said edges have been drawn together.

Building panels of so-called sandwich construction for formingrefrigeration and other insulated or accoustically insulated rooms havebecome very popular and consist generally in an inner insulating and/orsound-absorbing o core, often employing a foam plastic construction withouter facings or skins of thin sheet metal, plywood, or ber plasticymaterial. These panels are conventionally made in standard sizesincluding generally a four-foot by eight-foot size, and contains somemeans wherein two or more panels may be joined together to form acontinuous or angled wall, a ceiling or a partition.

It is an object of my invention to provide at intervals in the edges orcorner edges of such panels, cooperating aligned and enclosed mechanismwhereby edges of two panels to be joined are securely interlocked andthen drawn together to a desired, sealed position, and maintained insuch position.

More specifically it is an object to provide in one edge or corner edgeof an insulated building panel, two or more cooperating, enclosedelements in the form of shallow lock housings and to provide in themating edge of an adjacent panel to be joined, readily receivable andultimately enclosed bolt plates which, when forced into the saidcooperating housing locks, will be interlocked therewith, and whichmating parts further provide wedge means operative and drivable fromsmall apertures in the skins or facings of the panel adjacent the edgesto pull the panels together into a tight and sealed connectedrelationship.

My discoveries and improvements enable the panels, until interlockingjuncture is desired, to be formed with perfectly smooth edges along allsides, top and bottom thereof. When two panels are to be joined inalignment at their edges, or in perpendicular relationship, independentbolt plates are set in predetermined relation with the core portions atthe edges of one panel, and are then inserted in their projectingrelation, into shallow locking housings of the mating panel until thebolt plate locks with the locking housing, and thereafter wedge platesare employed to forcibly pull the edges of the panels together to bejoined, sealing strips being preferably employed between the joiningedges.

The aforesaid objects and purposes, and the new results of my inventionwill more fully appear from the following description made in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters referto similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary view mostly in rear elevation, showing a pair ofinsulated building panels secured together in vertical relation and alsosecured to a ceiling panel by my improved new locking and pullingmechanism;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the line of 2--2 of FIG. 1,and showing my cooperating interlocking and pulling mechanismoperatively applied to interconnect the edges of two vertical walls withthe opposed edges of the walls being properly drawn together with theemployment of hollow sealing strips between the opposing edges thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the larger scale of FIG. 2, alongthe line 33 showing details of the slidable bolt plate and the lockinghousing aligned therewith and interconnected;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG, 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective, fragmentary view showing vertical edges of thepanel in spaced relation with the lock bolt having been previouslysecured into the locking housing, and showing the position of the wedgeplate in drawing the two panel edges together before driving; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view diagrammatically showing thecooperating parts of the locking and pulling mechanism detached andpositioned for operation.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention disclosed andillustrated, a pair of vertically aligned, insulated wall panels P-l andP-Zt are shown, interlocked together and also interlocked and joinedwith a horizontal ceiling panel P-3.

All of the panels are of generally similar construction havingrelatively thick cores C, constructed of efficient heat and accousticalinsulating material such as foam plastic insulating material, and havingskins or facings 10 constructed as shown, of sheet metal havingreinforced longitudinal edges or ends 1l, constructed of sheet metal,plywood or lled plastic. The skins or faces l0 are folded at angles, buttheir longitudinal edges overlie the end members l1 of the panels. Themating edge of one of the panels has attached thereto near both theouter and inner faces 10 thereof, a hollow and somewhat compressiblelongitudinal sealing 12 of conventional structure and said sealingmembers may be attached by flexible folded attachment ends 12a beneaththe corresponding, overlapping flanges a of the skins or facing members.

It will be understood that the Shorter or horizontal edges of the panelsP-l and P-Z are similarly formed to the vertical longitudinal ends oredges thereof, and that at the appropriate edge a sealing member 12 isemployed to perfect sealing between a ceiling panel P-3 and thehorizontal upper edges of the panels P-1 and 1)-2.

At predetermined intervals, along the right hand vertical edge of panelP-l and the corresponding edge of other of the insulating panels to beemployed and always at points close to the top and bottom of the panels,shallow, vertical lock housings indicated as entireties by the letter Hare employed, inset into the core material near the edge and comprisingas shown in FIG. 4, a flat housing side plate 13 upturned at its outerend to form an attachment plate 13b, which may be secured by bolts orscrews to the thickened vertical edge of end members 11 of the panel. Asecond member 14 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured flush againsthousing plate 13 by attachment flanges 14a from which is offset acentral housing area 1411 which is spaced a short distance from thecentral portion of plate 13 to receive a slide bolt 15 later to bedescribed.

The central portion of the housing plate 14 is slit along a U-shapedline 14e to form a locking tongue 16 of rectangular shape and saidtongue is angularly bent inwardly to normally dispose its forward edge15a in substantially flush relation against the flat housing plate 13.

It will be understood that in molding or foaming the core C of the panelP-1, an indenture is made from the vertical right hand edge thereof, toproperly receive the housing H. This may be economically accomplished,by closing the vertical edge of the panel with the thickened end strip11 with the housing attached in the interior thereof, as shown in FIG.2, and the contents or core of the plastic material, foamed or otherwisetreated for expansion thereof,

The mating edge of panel P-2, carrying its edge-reinforcing strip 11,accommodates operatively, a rectangular slide bolt indicated as anentirety by the letter 15 which is of a rectangular plate shape, freelyslidable through a vertical slot 11b formed appropriately in reinforcedplate or strip 11. The core material of panel P-Z is indented invertical alignment with slot 11b to receive the bolts when the panelsare about to be joined. Bolt 15 has rounded or shouldered corners 15a atits forward end and is also tapered transversely at its forward edge 15bto facilitate outward deflection of the resilient tongue 16 as the boltis slid inwardly into the socket afforded by housing H. Bolt plate 15has a forward, rectangular aperture 15C formed therein, of slightlylarger dimensions than the outlines of the lock tongue 16. Communicatingessentially with the rectangular aperture 15C is a longitudinal slot 15dformed centrally and longitudinally of bolt plate 5, extending from saidaperture to an enlarged area 15e which is disposed close to the righthand end of the plate bolt as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

A wedge plate 17, having a straight outer longitudinal edge 17a andhaving an inclined wedging edge 17b inclined from a blunt point 17C atits outer end to a square shoulder 17d at about its midway point.

A circular aperture X is formed in the appropriate portion of theinterfacing or metal skin 10 of the panel P-2, of a diameter to fullyreceive the width of the wedge plate 17 and properly aligned forinsertion of the wedge plate in a suitable partial indentation of thefoamed plastic insulating core extending perpendicularly or transverselyof the thickness thereof. As shown, the wedge plate has a circularaperture 17e formed near the outer end thereof to facilitate engagementof a hook tool for removal of the wedge plate after it has been fullydriven into place, as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that the various panels P-1, P-Z and P-3 areequipped at their proper edges or ends with either the housing mechanismshown at the right hand edge of panel P-2 or on the mating edge thereofwith the slot 11b in proper alignment with the narrow channel or lockingsocket afforded by the housing H, and with a portion of the corematerial preferably indented to receive the slide bolt 15. The panelsare manufactured without insertion of the slide bolt 15 so that therewill be no outwardly projecting, interfering elements along any of theedges of the respective panels.

OPERATION lFrom the foregoing description it will be seen that thctwo-part housing H provides an enclosed, shallow bolt plate-receivingsocket of cross sectional dimensions to nicely accommodate the crosssectional dimension of the slide bolt 15. `It will further be seen thatthe rectangular apertured portion 15C in the outer end of the slide boltcooperates with the yieldable locking tongue 16 of the housing, toconstitute cooperating [means between the interior of the housing andthe slide bolt, for positively interlocking the two parts when the boltis slidably projected a predetermined distance in the socket.

When it is desired to interlock and pull two panels together, such asthe panels P-1 and P-Z, disposed in vertically aligned relation, thebolt plates `15 of a plurality of the interlocking devices on matingedges of the two panels are slidably driven into the shallow lockingsockets of the respective and mating housings H, carried by panel P-l.The sliding of the bolts inwardly until the said sockets and theresilient tongues 16 outwardly until the bolts are fully seated in thesockets with the locking tongues 16 having snapped into place and intoabutment against the innermost edge of the appropriate U-shape aperture15c formed in the innermost edge of the U- shaped aperture 15C of theappropriate bolt plate.

The two panels P4 and P-Z in vertically aligned position, will have therespective mating bolt plate receiving slots 11b formed in thereinforced edges thereof, aligned with the corresponding bolt plates 15,and relative lateral movement between the aligned panels P-1 and P-Z iseffected to a point where the outer ends of bolt plates 15 are insertedsome little distance through the slots 11b into the core portions of thepanel P-Z, to an extent where the longitudinal slot 15d in the outerportion of each bolt plate, and the shoulder which is formed by theslight enlargement 15e, are positioned inwardly of the wedge member 17which is then extended through the aperture X in the facing of panel P-Zadjacent its corresponding bolt slot 11b.

Thereafter, driving of the wedge 17 inwardly and in a line normal to theadjacent facing 10 of panel P-2, effects the engagement of the sharplyinclined wedge edge 17b against the shoulder afforded by enlargement15e, thereby forcing or pulling the panels together to an extent wherethe tubular compressible sealing members 12, carried as shown by panelP-2, are compressed and tightly sealed against the reinforcing edge 11of panel P-1. The two panels are then positively interlocked and sealedtogether adjacent their mating edges, leaving a very shallow dead airspace because of the protrusion of the compressible sealing strips 12.

It will be understood where it is required to pull together andinterlock two panels disposed in perpendicular relation, that instead ofenclosing the respective housings H within and in alignment with thelongitudinal edge and strip l11 of the panel, the housings will bedisposed perpendicularly of the positions shown in the drawings, and anappropriate elongated recess will be made through one of the facings ofthe panel (such as panel P-l), to accommodate and enclose the housingmember with the locking socket formed thereby, extending to the exteriorand perpendicular of the face or skins of that panel.

Similarly, it will be readily understood that with the proper enclosureand positioning of the housings for securing ceiling panels to the upperedges of the vertical panels, and likewise the vertical panels to afloor panel,

the perpendicular relation between two mating panels will exist and thehousing, having the shallow locking socket therein, will be properlypositioned at right angles to one facing of the horizontally disposed(ceiling and floor panels).

With my improved structure it will be seen that substantially all of theparts of my mechanism are enclosed within side edges and/ or the coresof the building panels, thereby minimizing any heat losses throughradiation or transmission of heat because of metal parts.

Further, it will be seen that since the slide bolts are insertable atthe location or building when the panels are to be joined, the panels asmanufactured, stored and shipped, have no projecting bolt or otherinterlock eletrnents until it is desired to pull two of the sametogether and interlock them. This is a great advantage in the handling,storage and shipping of the panels.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided asimple, economical and highly efficient mechanism which is readilyadaptable to wide use in joinying and interlocking building panels ofvarious different types, including preformed ywall panels with orwithout insulated cores, accoustical panels and refrigeration panels,which are very extensively used at this time in predetermined sizes andheights.

What is claimed is:

1. Mechanism for interlocking and pulling together the edges of buildingpanels to be joined, having in combination,

a locking housing enclosed adjacent an edge of a building panel andhaving a narrow bolt plate-receiving socket extending inwardly throughthe exterior of said edge,

a slide bolt of elongate plate formation having a cross sectionaldimension for freely tting and being projectable longitudinally intosaid socket, said bolt having a generally rectangularly aperturedlocking portion formed in the inner area thereof,

said housing having a complementary resilient locking tongue of somewhatsmaller dimensions but generally similarly shaped to said rectangularaperture and being normally acutely angled inwardly from one side ofsaid housing toward the opposite side thereof in position to be cammedinwardly by insertion of the inner end of said locking bolt until theterminal of said tongue is abutted against the inner edge of saidrecessed portion in said slide bolt, thereby positively interlockingsaid bolt with said tongue,

said slide bolt being of a length to leave a substan- 6 tial outerportion thereof protruding from an edge of the rst panel after saidinterlocking, and being aligned for slidable projection into a slot inthe rnating edge of a second building panel,

said outer projecting slide bolt portion having a longitudinal slottherein terminating in a wedge-receiving shoulder,

and a wedge member drivable through an aperture in a face of said secondpanel adjacent said bolt-insertion slot and drivable in a directionperpendicular to the outer inserted end of said bolt, and engagableagainst said shoulder to wedgedly force said bolt inwardly further intosaid second panel, thereby pulling the first interlocked panelsubstantially against the mating edge of the second panel.

2. The structure and combination as defined in claim 1, furthercharacterized by said slide bolt having a longitudinal slot extendingfrom the central portion thereof to a point adjacent the outer extremitythereof,

the end of said slot constituting the shoulder against which said wedgeelement applies force when driven, to pull said slide bolt and the panelinterlocked therewith, inwardly substantially against the mating edge ofthe second panel.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, further characterized by a pairof widely spaced, compressible sealing strips, secured longitudinallythrough the edges of one of said panels, and against which the opposingedge of a mating panel is drawn to seal said panels together ininterlocked relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,192 8/ 1944 Wachsmann etal.

287-20.92DB 2,581,816 l/1952 Schleuter 287-20.924X 2,585,683 2/1952Richardson 287-20927 2,616,136 1l/l952 Kronouer et al. 287-120.9242,775,799 1/ 1957 Friedrich 287-20924 FOREIGN PATENTS 743,259 l/ 6 GreatBritain 287-20.92G 942,043 9/ 1948 France 287-20.92DB

DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner W'. L. SHEDD, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R. 52-5 84

